Orthopedic shoe heel



Oct l. 1935- J. PlETzucH 2,016,215 oRTHoPEDIo SHOE HEEL Filled May 14, 1954 Inval.' a"

A Tra/305x Patented Oct. i, 1935v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE My invention relates to an orthopedic shoe and heel construction, and particularly to a unique design of heel vfor shoes which will cause the wearer of the shoe incorporating my invention to automatically assume a correct foot position when standing or walking, and which will byy reason of a correct distribution of the weight on the feet relieve undue strains on the inner, outer, and transverse arches of the feet, thus producing ease and comfort of the feet in standing or walking.

It is a well known tact that a person throws more or less weight or strain to the inside or outside arches oi the feet when walking or stand- 15, ing, as illustrated by they crooked and uneven wearing of the heels andalso the soles of the shoes. This indicates-that an increased strain is thrown upon either the inner or outerlongitudinal arches or the transverse arch, and this 20 condition ultimately breaks down the main supporting foot arches and results inthe painful condition usually known as flat foot, which in addition destroys correct body poise, springiness of step, and general walking efficiency, as well as a5 causing serious personal inconvenience and-distress.

Human feet may be divided into three classes: the rst class is the rigid foot, the second class the exible foot, and the third class the flat 30 foot. The rigid foot is of very firm and strong nature and correctly supports thegweight of the body, the bones of the foot lying in a natural arched position so that the weight is supported at the heel and toe regions of the foot. This is in persons who lare physically strong and whose feet are disposed in a proper or correct position when standing or walking. The flexible type of foot is one which, has some flexibility and in 40 which the muscles and arches of the foot have been somewhat strained so that thedesired rigidity is not present. The third class of foot, or flat foot, is one in which the arches are completely broken and there is neither rigidity nor flexi- 45 ,bility. 'Y g Approximately 10% of the feet are oi therigid. type, 25% are of the nat foottype, and the re,- maining 65% are of the flexible type. If persons having feet of the flexible type continue to walk or stand with the feet in improper positions to take the weight of the body, a flat foot will develop. If, a personhaving flat feet will place or be caused to place his feet in such positions as to relieve excessive strains on any of the arches, u =`the'latfoot condition cannot be corrected but painful and distressing conditions maybe relieved.

In my prior patent entitled Shoe-heel cushion, No. 1,264,127, patented April 23, 1918, is disclosed a heel which is particularly adapted to be worn 5 by persons having nat feet. This type of heel will distribute the weight on the feet in such a manner as to relieve pain and distress. Such heel, however, is not adapted for use on the neit--A ible or rigid type of foot, since by reason of its 1a.

design the weight will be thrown onto the outer arch of the foot, with the result that it will be unduly strained.

After considerable investigation and experiinenting in an effort to invent a heel construction adapted for use by persons having the rigid type or the exible type of foot, I have dis covered cerlain principles which I have put into use in the present invention and have thus produced a heel construction which is peculiarly l adaptedfor use by persons having rigid or flexible feet. p

In the iirst place, I have determined that it is necessary to properly distribute the weight on the inner, outer, and transverse arches of the feet.

This may be accomplished by placing the foot on a desired vertical or uprightaxis. I use the term vertical axis. arbitrarily and by it I mean an axis winch extends in a plane substantially, but not necessarily accurately, perpendicular to the surface on 'which the foot is placed. By tilting the foot either inward or outward; that is, to throw the -weight on the outer arch or the inner arch, I ain able to distribute the weight the most perfect type of foot and is usually found on the arches of the feet in desired propor- 35 tions so that one arch does' not receive any more load than it is intended to carry or due to its physical condition is able to carry. This tilting of the foot I refer to as adjusting the position of the foot on a vertical axis. I have further deter- 40 mined that by causing a person to place his foot in a proper standing or walking position, the foot structure is much moreable to'take the load l on the foot than when the foot is in an improper position. This is readily appreciable due to the fact that usually foot pains or breaking down of the arches or straining of the arches results o rigin'ally from improper foot position. Y I therefore have determined that in addition. to the adjustment cil the posltionof the foot on the vertical 5'0 axis, it is necessary to adjust' the foot on a horizontal axis. I- use the term horizontal axis arbitrarily to mean the axis which extends from the heel to the toe of the toot. In other words,

I refer tothe moving of the toot to cause the toe to point either forward or inward. I h ave determined from theexperiments which I have made that by properly adjusting the foot both as to its vertical axis and as to its horizontal axis, a proper walking position will be assumed and that the weight will be evenly distributed over the various parts of the foot which are intended to take the weight.

It is an object of my present invention to provide an orthopedic shoe and a heelV construction in which the foot will be properly adjusted both on its vertical axis and its horizontal axis, as pointed out heretofore, in order that proper walking position and proper weight distribution will be obtained. When a shoe including my invention is worn by a'person having rigid type of foot, the foot will besupported in a proper walking position and there will be no tendency for the arches to be either strained or broken. When the shoe incorporating the features of my invention is worn by a. person having flexible feet, ease and pleasure in standing or walking will be produced and any defective condition will not be aggravated. By wearing a shoe of my invention over a period of time Vthe arches and` muscles of the fiexible type of foot will be permitted to be strengthened due to the fact that undue strains are not placed on any part of the foot.

One very important point which I have determined is that the foot mustv be brought into a e correct position prior to the time that the weight is placed on the arches of the foot. During walking when a person steps out, for example, with his right foot, he first places the rear edge of the heel on the floor, then as he walks forward the toe is brought down and finally the Weight is placed on the arches or on the'foot as a whole. During the initial stepping position all of the weight is taken by the heel and particularly is applied through the os calcis, which is the bone of the foot in the heel. I have determinedthat the proper time to adjust the foot' on the horizontal axis is while the os calcis is taking the weight and before the weight is transferred to the arches of the foot.

It is, in accordance with the above paragraph. an object of my invention to provide a shoe construction and a heel therefor in which the foot is adjusted on its horizontal axis prior to the time that the weight is placed on the arches of the fee't.

In order to illustrate my invention, I will describe a particular embodiment of my invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawing.'

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 .is a plan View looking downwardly as indicated by the line and arrows A-A of Fig. 5 of a heel incorporating the features of my invention adapted to be secured to a right shoe.

Fig. 2 is a plan view looking downwardly as indieated by the line and arrows A-A of Fig. 5 of a heel incorporating the features of my invention which is adapted to be secured to a left shoe.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through a shoe incorporating the features of my invention and having the heel of Fig. l attached thereto. Diagrammatically illustrated in this view is a foot showing the bone and arch' construction.y

The shoe and foot are shown in the position in which 'all of the weight is being taken by the os calcis and immediately prior to the time the weight is distributed to the arches of the foot.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the sole and heel construction of the shoe shown in Fig. 3, the sole plan view of the heel worn on the left shoe.

Referring to Figs. 3 to 5 inclusive, the numeral 5 II represents the shoe having an upper or top construction I2, a sole I4, and a heel I5. This heel I5 incorporates the novel features of my invention and is illustrated in Figs. l and 2. Fig. 1, as pointed out heretofore, is a plan View of the 10 heel employed on the right shoe, and Fig. 2 is a In describing the construction of the heel, reference will be made rst to Fig. l. The heel I5 is made of an external shape which resembles the ordi- 15 nary heel construction. It has a relatively straight forward lateral face I6, side curved faces I,'I, and a rear curved face I8. rIhe faces I'I and I8 are of curved shape in order to conform to the contour of the shoe to which they are secured. 20 I have found that it is very important that the .face IB be straight inorder to give a slightly greater area to the forward inside corner while preserving the original appearance to the. average observer and to give the desired adjustment of 25 the' shoe on its vertical axis, aswill be fully explained hereinafter. I have found this to be particularly true in the better made shoes in which the soles and shanks are quite flexible and, therefore, require the support offered by the 30 straight forward wall I6.

The heel of my invention is made in two parts and is of dual resiliency. In other words, oney part of the heel is more resilient, elastic, or flexible, than the other part. Dueto the fact that 35 rubber may be made of different resiliencies or elasticities and possesses the necessary wear-resistant qualities, I prefer to make the heel from rubber. For the purpose of distinguishing between the two sections, I use the terms resilient 40 and less resilient. It should be understood, however, that these terms are only relative. I have found in actual practice that very satisfactory results are obtained where the resilient portion is substantially resilient and where 45 the less resilient portion is substantially 25% resilient. IIt isv highly desirable that both portionsof the heel have both wear and weatherresistant qualities in order that the heel will retain its shape over a long period of time and 50 will not wear nor change its shape due to weather conditions. It is particularly desirabley that the more resilient portion have substantially greater wear-resistant qualities so that at the end of the life of the heel, the entire wear surface will still 55 be substantially plane.

The numeral 20 represents a resilient portion and the numeral 2l represents a less resilient portion of the heel I5 of my invention. These two portions are preferably formed integrally 60 and their line of juncture is along a diagonal line 22. The position of the line of junction 22 of the two portions 20 and 2| of the heel of my invention 'is very important, since it enables the accomplishment of the important and unique 65 results obtainable in the'use of my invention. It` will be noted that this diagonal line 22 is a transverse line extending fromV one side I1 to' the other side I'I of the heel, with the result that there is a less resilient material on both the inner and outer sides of theshoe. Since Fig. 1 shows a heel adapted for use on a right shoe, the numeral 24 will represent the inner sideand the numeral 25 will represent the outer side. From the inner side Zito the outer side 25 the dividing 75 t heel. It is, moreover, important that the less' resilient material extend all the way across the heel; that is, all the,.way from4 the inner side 24 to the outer side 25. The exact angle which the dividing line 22 makes with respect to a longitudinal or transverse axis through the heel is not vital so far as a number of degrees are concerned, but it must be of such an angular position that the results of my invention, which I will point out in detail hereinafter may beaccomplished; and after readingthat portion of the specification the exact requirements and tolerances of the particular shape or dimensions may be understood.

In Fig. 2, which is a heel adapted to be secured to a left shoe, the construction is reversed, as is obvious from a comparison of Figs. 1 and 2, and therefore the numerals employed in Fig. 1 may be applied to the heel shown in Fig. 2.

In Figs. 3 and 5 I haveshown the bones of the Vfoot and have placed the names on them so that they may be readily recognized. Referring now particularly to Fig. 3, Iwill describe the manner in which the shoe incorporating the features of my invention will cause an even distribution of the weight on the various parts of the foot and a correct walking or standing position thereof.

In Fig. 3 I have shown the position of the out'- wardly toed right foot and shoe just at the point after the rear edge or rear portion 30 has engaged the surface 3|. The weight has been applied to the `rear portion of the heel at this time and due to the fact that the rear portion of the heel is the resilient portion 20, it will be compressed and deformed slightly, as illustrated in Fig. 3. It is highly important that'the two portions 20 and 2| be permanently secured together and be integral in order that when the part -20 is compressed it will not be pulled away from the part 2|. The lower faces which are in the same plane always meet at a common juncture point and there is no offsetting relation at the juncture point caused by a compression of the part 2|). 'Ihe Aresilient portion of the heel therefore performs the very valuable service of acting as a shock absorber in order to absorb the force of the original contact of the heel with the surface k3|. The foot and shoe are shown in the position just prior to the time that any part of the less resilient portion 2| comes into contact with the surface 3|.

Considering nowthat the foot has, moved slightly from the position shown in Fig.` 3 and that the rear inside corner of the less resilient portion has come into contact with the surface 3|, due to the fact that the inner portion of the less resilient part of the heel extends sufiiciently farther to the rear than the outer portion, the

-inner less resilient portion will come into contact with the surface prior to' the. time that the 'outer less resilient portion comes into contact with the surface 3 I. This occurs while the weight is transferred to the surface through the os calcis or through the bone in the heel. This is prior to the time that qthe weight is shifted to the arches or the bones constituting the arches of the foot. When the inner rear corner of the inner less resilient portion, which I will designate by the numeral 33, and which is indicated by the point or small area as shown in Fig. 4, engages the surface 3|, there is a tendency -for the `foot to be rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as indicated by the arrow 34 in Fig. 4. This rotating action is produced due to the fact thatthis inner rear corner of the less resilient portion offers greater resistance to the pressure applied in 5 taking a step, the direction of pressure being indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3. Due to the fact that this inner rear corner of the less resilient portion is eccentric with respect to the axis C-C, as shown in Fig. 5, there will be a rotating force, 10 as indicated by the arrow 34 in Fig. 4, which tends to swing the shoe from the position indicated in full lines in Fig. 4 into such a position that the axis A-A will now occupy the position indicated by the dotted axis line B-B. The re- 15 sult of this rotating action is to move the shoe and foot from a position shown in full lines in Fig. 4 and disposed on an axis A--A into a position in which the foot and shoe will be disposed on an axis B--B. In other words, thetoe of the 20 shoe and foot will be swung inwardly. Fig. 4 is a plan view showing the sole and heel construction of the right vfoot and the foregoing description applies thereto. However, it will be understood that in a shoe for the left foot the heel 257x. is arranged as shownin Fig. 2 and the rotating of the shoe on a horizontal plane would be in the opposite direction. It is well known that the correct walking position, of the foot is slightly pigeon-toed. This is the position in which the 30 American Indian holds his foot while walking and it is well recognized that this is the natural and correct walking position of the foot. This is the adjustment ofthe portion of the foot which is referred to as the adjustment on a horizontal axis.

Thus far we have brought the foot into a proper walking position. It further remains, however, to position the foot so that the weight is propverly distributed between the inner and outer arches. As the foot reaches the position in which the weight is placed on the arches, themajor portion of the heel will be brought into 'contact with the surface 3| and the less resilient portion 2| will engage the supporting surface 3| entirely 45 across the heel. In other words, there will be engagement from the inner side to the outer side of the heel. Due to the fact that this portion 2| is a atless resilient portion, it will cause the shoe and foot to assume its proper vertical position, as show'n in Fig. 5. It is this condition' of the heel of Amy invention which produces an adjustment of the shoe and foot on or around the vertical axis C-C as indicated by the arrow 35. It willbe seen that if in stepping A forward the foot is tilted either inward or outward, the less resilient portion 2| will properly tilt the shoe and foot into their proper vertical position relative to the axis C-C. Whenin this position the weight will be properly disq tributed on the arches of the foot so that no part of the foot will be subjected to undue strains.

From the foregoing it will be seen: first, that the shoe incorporating the features of my invention causes the foot toV automatically assume a proper walking posture; second, that the foot is 'brought into its proper horizontal position prior to the time. that the weight is transferred to the 70 and advantage of the invention is that the foot is not unduly pinched or cramped in the shoe, since it .will rest in a normal central position and will not be thrown to the outer or inner walls of the shoe which would produce an uncomfortable or distressed condition.

I claim as my invention:

1. A heel construction comprising a body of rubber having front and rear portions integral- -ly secured together along a transverse line'ot substantial slope, the rear portion being formed of resilient rubber and the front portion being formed of less resilient rubber only, said transverse line extending forwardly from the inner to the outer edge of said heel and the middle of said transverse line being Apositioned forwardly of the center of the heel to provide the inner side of said front portion with a substantially greater area than the outer side of said front portion.

2. A heel construction comprising a body of resilient material Ahaving front and rear portions which are integrally secured together, the front portion being of less resilient material 'Ward beyond the hook of the os calcis and the outer side of the hook portion. extending rearward a sufficient distance to provide a support for only the forward outer portion of the os calcis.

.the os calcis.

' 4. A heel construction comprising a body of resilient material having iront and rear portions integrally secured together along a transverse diagonal line, the front portion being of less resilient material than the rear portion, the inyl5 ner side of said .front portion extending rearward beyond the hook of the os calcis and the outer side of said front portion extending rearward beyond only the forward outer portion of 5. In an orthopedic shoe construction of the class described having a sole and upper construction, the combinationv with a heel secured to the heel portion comprising a body ci rubber having front and rear portions integrally se- 15 cured together along a transverse line of substantial slope, the rear portion being formed of resilient rubber and the front portion being formed of less resilient rubber only, said transverse line extending forwardly from the inner to 20 the outer edge of said heel and the middle of said transverse line being positioned forwardly of the center o! the heel to provide the inner side of said front portion with a substantially greater area than the outer side of said front portion. 25 6. In an orthopedic shoe construction of the class described having a sole and upper construction, the combination with a heel secured to the heel portion, comprising a body oi resilient material having front and rear portions which 30 are integrally secured together, the iront portion being of less resilient material than the rear portion, the area constituting the inner side of said front portion extending rearward beyond the hookv of the os calcis to provide a support 35 therefor and the area constituting the outer side oi' said front portion being sumcient to provide a support for only the forward outer portion of the os calcis.

v i JOSEPH PIETZUCH. 

